An Illinois jury has found former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old woman who had dialed 911 for help at her Springfield home in July 2024 — a tragedy that ignited outrage and sorrow across the country.
Grayson, 31, was originally charged with three counts of first-degree murder after firing three shots at Massey, but jurors opted for the lesser charge after two days of deliberation. The verdict was announced online by the family’s attorney.
The conviction carries a potential sentence of four to twenty years in prison, though reports suggest the former deputy could still be eligible for probation without prison time. Sentencing is set for January 29.
The case drew national attention for its unsettling familiarity — another instance of a Black American killed inside her own home by law enforcement. Though it did not spark the same widespread protests as the deaths of George Floyd or Breonna Taylor, Massey’s name became a rallying cry for accountability in policing.
During the trial, Grayson’s defense claimed he fired in self-defense, insisting he believed Massey was about to throw a pot of boiling water at him despite his commands to put it down. Prosecutors countered that Massey was attempting to comply when Grayson pulled the trigger.
The family’s attorneys called the verdict a long-overdue step toward justice.
“Accountability has begun,” they said, urging the court to deliver a sentence that truly reflects the life lost.
In the months following the shooting, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell resigned amid public pressure, and the county later reached a $10 million settlement with Massey’s family — an acknowledgment of a call for help that ended in tragedy instead.
